The top six drivers on the grid for tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix are taking radically different approaches on strategy. The lead trio of Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber are light on fuel and will probably start on the super-soft tyre. Behind them Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button and Jarno Trulli are fuelled to go … Continue reading Chinese GP: thoughts on the start

After looking at the 2009 F1 cars from various angles many people have remarked on how different many of the designs are. But if we take a look at the circuits alongside one another it seems F1 tracks are becoming increasingly similar.

The FIA has published an updated 2009 F1 calendar. The Chinese Grand Prix is now the third round instead of the 15th, and will be held in April. This means F1 will have visited the circuit twice within seven months, and next year’s Grand Prix may see different climactic conditions to what we have been … Continue reading 2009 F1 calendar shortened

Why did Felipe Massa race with a ‘shark fin’ but Kimi Raikkonen didn’t? How did Fernando Alonso’s ‘under-powered’ Renault out-drag Heikki Kovalainen? John Beamer of F1-Pitlane has the answers to these questions and more in his technical round-up for Shanghai.

How did Ferrari manage the position switch between Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa? Why did Mark Webber’s charge to the front go wrong? A look at the lap times from the Chinese Grand Prix explains how it all unfolded.

With a very similar top five on the grid, will we see a repeat of the Fuji chaos at the first corner at Shanghai? Lewis Hamilton is on pole position but he has title rival Felipe Massa starting in his wheeltracks and the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen alongside him. The presence of Fernando Alonso … Continue reading Chinese GP: thoughts on the start

Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix after leading every practice and qualifying session in Shanghai bar one. But with Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and the ‘third Ferrari’ of Fernando Alonso right behind him he will be under huge pressure at the start. Meanwhile Robert Kubica failed to qualifying inside the top … Continue reading Lewis Hamilton on pole in China (2008 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying)